Cultural Management

  • Remove symptomatic plants from your garden or greenhouse. Burn, bury or hot compost the affected plants.
  • Soak seeds in water at 122°F for 25 min. before sowing.
  • To keep leaves dry and to prevent the spread of the pathogens, avoid overhead watering and instead use a drip-tape or soakerhose.
  • Also to prevent spread, DO NOT handle plants when they are wet and routinely sterilize tools with either 10% bleach solution or (better) 70% alcohol (e.g., rubbing alcohol).
  • Consider using preventative applications of copper-based products registered for use on tomato, especially during warm, wet periods.
  • Keep in mind however, that if used excessively or for prolonged periods, copper may no longer control the disease.
  • Burn, bury or hot compost tomato debris at the end of the season
  • Wait at least one year before planting tomatoes in a given location again.